Well-being Of Personnel A Priority as Defence Ministry outlines 10 Key Focus Areas For 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 (Bernama) -- The Defence Ministry (MINDEF) is set to prioritise the welfare of its personnel in 2025, focusing on better housing and educational benefits.

This initiative is part of the ministry’s 10 key focus areas designed to enhance the well-being of its members while addressing the current and future challenges of national defence.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said welfare improvements will include broader coverage of disability benefits, effective this month. 

He said among the revisions approved is the extension of disability pensions to all levels of impairment (1-100 per cent), replacing the previous one-time disability compensation (1–19 per cent).

The education allowance for children of disability pension recipients will increase from RM200–RM685 annually to RM1,600–RM5,400, depending on the education level, he added. 

“The ‘layanan sentiasa’ allowance will also rise significantly from RM440 to RM1,500, aligning with the Minimum Wage Order 2022. Moreover, a one-time compensation for injuries sustained during active duty, such as operations, emergencies, high-risk training, or recruitment assessment will now be provided to all affected members of the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM),” he said. 

Speaking at the New Year 2025 ministerial address at Wisma Perwira, Mohamed Khaled emphasised the importance of improving housing facilities for ATM personnel. The event was attended by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Tan Sri Mohammad Ab Rahman, Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari and Defence Ministry secretary-general Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali.

He said RM426 million has been allocated this year to enhance the maintenance and upgrade of the Armed Forces Family Housing (RKAT) and personnel accommodations nationwide.

"Over 12,000 RKAT units and personnel quarters are expected to benefit from this allocation,” he added.

The Defence Ministry will also reassess the structure and effectiveness of the Military Training Academy (ALK), addressing challenges such as cadet attrition, discipline issues and cost efficiency, Mohamed Khaled said.

Mohamed Khaled said the ministry is considering special funding to sponsor students pursuing critical fields essential to the ATM. Additionally, it is exploring a debt relief initiative for graduates from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) among Reserve Officer Training Unit (Palapes) members successfully enlisted into the ATM.

He said the ministry’s nine other focus areas for the year include talent recruitment, enhancing the unique advantages of ATM services and acquiring advanced assets and technologies to meet evolving needs.

Further priorities include fostering a competitive local defence industry, accelerating defence innovation through the Defence Science and Technology Research Institute (STRIDE) and strengthening defence diplomacy.

Efforts will also aim to cultivate a patriotic society, enhance national sovereignty and strategically negotiate the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) to address critical defence requirements.

-- BERNAMA